Flashlight device



P. C. SMALLEY.

FLASHLIGHT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 1,920.

Patented May 3,1921,

ATTORNEY rrrcl" rresnmen'r :onvrcn To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL C. SMALLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Flashlight Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make, construct, and use the same, reference be? had to the accompanying drawings, and to numerals of refer ence marked thereon, forming a part of this specification. I

The present invention relates to battery hand lamps or flash lights of a type adapted for carrying in the pocket and provided with a miniature lamp of which current may he delivered from a battery inclosed in the casing of the device. It has been found in practice that when these hand lamps are dropped there is danger that the batteries will crash through the base of the incandescent lamp and destroy it, and this is particularly the case when the battery is sup ported at its base on a coiled contact spring, for the spring permits enough movement of the battery inthe case to give a relatively heavy blow when the battery strikes the lamp at the other end of the case. In many hand lamps of usual construction there is also danger of crushing the lamp by screwing on the bottom cap of the device so tightly as to crowd the batteries forcibly against the base of the lamp.

The object of my invention is characterized by the provision of means secured to the threaded portion of the reflector, interposed between the sameand the batteries in such a way as to take the direct thrust of the batteries thereby preventing the destruction of the incandescent lamp.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which will adapt itself to most of the commercial battery hand lamps on the market today,'and which is exceedingly simple and eflective in construction, comparatively inexpensive in cost and durahis in use. p e the preferred forms of my inven- Specification of Letters Yatent.

parting from the scope thereof.

In the drawings,

Patented May 3., 1921. Application filed January 13, 1920. Serial E9. $51,109.;

Figure 1 represents a section through an embodiment of my intention, :il lustt'ating the batteries and lamp in elevation.

Figs. 2 and 3 represent, respectively, a side and a plan view-of t e same.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent 'respectivel a Y front and a side elevation o a modified orniof my improved device.

Figs, 6 and 7 same; and Figs. 8 and 9 represent side elevations of other modified forms ofmy improved device.

represent detail views of the 'Similar characters of reference are em ployed in all of the above described views-t0 indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the drawings, the refer ence character 1 indicates a metallic tubular \casing containing the cylindrical batteries 2,. though, of course, this casing may be of any ponvenient form, or other suitable materia 3 represents a screw-threaded closure hav- 8 represents a reflector havinga central I opening, into which the lamp socket 9 of the lamp 10 is mounted, the base part 11 of the lamp forms one of the poles, the other [pole being shown at 12. r

Whenmounted in the casing 1, one pole of the battery is connected to the casing through the spring 4, as-described, and the other pole 13 of the battery is-cor'nject ed to the terminal 12 of the lamp, leaxei ngthe cir cuit between the reflector and the casing 1 open, Suitable means are provided to-close this gap in the circuit when it is desired to operate the lamp, and said means here shown consists of a movable member .14, which engages the casing through contact therewith, and which is slidable 111 said casing to engage the reflector 8. The end 15 of the movable member 14 being turned up to form a sliding contact with the reflector, so as to insure a bright surface, due to the rubbing of the end 15 over the reflector 8, and thereby a good" contact.

Suitable means, for operating the member 14 are provided, which consists of a Slide able finger piece 16 connected to said member 14 and secured to the casing 1 as 15 well known.

The means for preventing the destruct on of the incandescent lamp consists essentially of an apertured diskl7, which may be made of wood, fiber, hard rubber or any suitable material.

The apertured portion of the disk is screw-threaded'to receive the screw-threaded portion of the reflector 8.

The under side of the disk is provided with an offset portion as at'18 over which the open end of the metallic cap 19 is forced thus securing the two parts together,

One side of the metallic cap 19 is pierced as at 20 to provide a tongue 21 pro ectlng inwardly into the shell, the end of which 15 designed to contact with the lamp terminal 12, to insure good electrical contact with the battery terminal end with said lamp termithe modified forms illustrated in'Figs. :5, 8 and 7 of the drawings, it will be noticed that-l have dispensed with the metallic shell 19 and substituted therefor the metallic contact member 22, which in its pre ferred form made "from fiat strip metal and provided with an annular portion 23 designed to be secured to the annular shoulder 18 of the disk 17. grally from the annular portion 23 is the downwardly, outwardly, upwardly, and inwardly extending portion 24, the outwardly and inwardly extending portions 24 thereof insuring good electrical contact with the battery and lamp terminals.

In the modified forms illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, it will be noticed that I have dispensed with the apertured. membeigof insulating material and provided a shock absorber made from a single piece of contact making material. p

in Fig. 8, the device consists of a spiral spring 25 preferably of conical shape, the upper portion of which is designed to enwith the pole 12 of the lamp and the lower portion designed to engage with and encircling the pole 13 of the battery thereby establishing electrical connections.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings the device consists essentially of a metallic member 26 preferably made from a single strip of uit Extending inte-- 27 designed to receive the pole 13 of the battery and the opposite free end thereof designed to engage with the pole 12 of the lamp, the intermediate portion of the strip being bent as clearly indicated in the drawings, thereby establishing electrical connections.

In both of these cases the device is positioned upon the pole 13 of the battery and held thereon against accidental displace ment.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the details of construction of the parts of the device, without departing, from the scope of my present invention, hence I do not limit my invention to the exact details of construction of the various parts thereof.

Having thus describe my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is L'A flash light comprising a casing, a battery therein, means pressing against the bottom of said battery to establish electrical connection therewith, a lens and a reflector at the other end of said casing, a lamp secured in said reflector, a shock absorber comprising an apertured disk carried by said reflector and a metallic shell secured to saiddisk to receive the thrust of said battery, said shell provided with an. inwardly extending tongue, said shell and tongue directly connecting one terminal of said battery to said lamp and means for completing the connections between said bottom spring and said lamp.

2. A flash light comprising a casing, a battery therein, means pressing against the bottom of said battery to establish electrical connections therewith, a lens and a reflector at the other-end off said casing, a lamp secured in said reflector, comprising an insulating member carried by said reflector and a metallic member carried by said insulating member to receive the thrust of said battery, said metallic membattery to said lamp and means for completmg the connections between said. bottom spring and said lamp.

3. A flash light comprising a casing, a battery therein, means pressing against the bottom of said battery to establish electrical her directly connecting one terminal of said 7 connections therewith, a lens and a reflector at the other end of said casing, a lamp secured in said reflector, a shock absorber comprising an apertured insulating disk having screw-threaded engagement with said reflector, and metallic contact making means made from 'a single piece of suitable material carried by said disk to receive the thrust of saidbattery and directly connect- 111g one terminal of said battery to said a shock absorber lamp and means for completing the 0 onnecmember designecl to directly cbnneet one 1e tions between the bottom spring and said terminal of the flash light battery to the lamp.

Q. As a new article of manufacture, a removable shock absorber for use. in flash lights, comprising an apertured member of insulating material carried by the flash light reflector and metallic contact making and shock absorbing means carried by said flash light lamp.-

This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of January, 1920.

PAUL C, SMALLEY..

Witnesses:

FREDK. C, FISCHER, FERDINAND NOLL. 

